Saturday, October 17, 2009

...premiered in Hollywood. My how things have changed. Remember when we didn't know who Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) was or that Christopher Nolan would soon make one of the biggest hits of all time. Remember when people were still regularly talking about Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) and everyone was still hugely fond of Christian Bale? Good times.

44 comments:

I can't believe it's been three years! The Prestige was my favorite film of 2006 and easily one of my favorite films of the decade. While some people may see the film as Nolan falling back on old techniques, I feel the structure of the film gives the story a deep sense of urgency/mystery. However, it's best attribute is that it's not afraid to paint it's main characters in a negative light, which makes the mystery of the plot even stronger and more unpredictable.

Anyway, It's too bad how people have turned on Bale because I still feel he's delivered some good performances since The Prestige (I thought he was quite good in The Dark Knight, 3:10 to Yuma and I'm Not There... Terminator Salvation is another story).

As for Andy Serkis, it's unfortunate that his career didn't take off in a great way but I'm not surprised by this at all. In fact, if you really think about it, the only people from LOTR that really got a career boost were Viggo Mortensen and Ian Mckellan (which could be argued).

Christian Bale is still hugely liked by millions of people. Could you so called internet reporters go one day without having to remind us all that this man had one bad public moment. God I'd love to see one of you handle this kind of thing with as much class as he did. As for Jackman, he's acting folks. Every time he's out in public he's putting on a show for us. I'm not saying he's not a really nice guy but come on he is clearly turning on the charm whenever there's a camera on him.

As for Jackman, he's acting folks. Every time he's out in public he's putting on a show for us. I'm not saying he's not a really nice guy but come on he is clearly turning on the charm whenever there's a camera on him.He is actually turning on the charm then the camera is off too, and anyone working, talking or simply passing by him myself including can confirm that to you. So kudos to him for being able to act through his whole life. If there were more people "acting" like this, world would be a better place.

anon 2:27 it's not just that one moment (which... yeah, everyone has their bad days but i think it's bizarre to claim that most people couldn't have handled it with as much class as he. Most people wouldn't be in that situation to begin with. Just like Russell Crowe with the phone throwing) But I wasn't trying to point out the profanity parade. It's a combo of things. There was that. There was the police issue with his family. And mostly there was the loss of interest because he used to give really intriguing performances and then he just... stopped. Now he's mostly just Bale with an affected voice in every film which is so strange because the bulk of his career was not like that.

The problem, Nathaniel, is that I don't know if Christian Bale knows that (about his always being Christian Bale with a modified voice). I'd hate to resort to any stereotypes, but like the high school quarterback/prom king from all those old movies, it seems the more popular he became, the less effort he felt he had to put into everything he does.

You tell that first Anon, Anon! NOBODY talks shit about my Hugh! I love him dearly, and love The Prestige, because Christian Bale is also talented and hot. I thought it was MUCH better than The Illusionist, for what it's worth. Oh, and ScarJo > JBiel.

I love the Prestige, great movie. Bale is still and will continue to be a huge star and many people still love him. Empire Magazine online just posted their results for the 100 sexiest actors(50) and actresses(50) that was voted on by the PUBLIC. Bale was #5. Now this pole has only a little to do with his acting ability, which is top notch and a lot to do with his likability and coming in at #5 out of 50 other top actors speaks volumes. Please stop with the Bale bashing its played out.

anon 5:07 i didn't bash Bale. That's called Baleheads being very defensive. All I said was "when...everyone was still hugely fond of him" You'd have to be lying to yourself to believe that people haven't cooled on him a lot these past couple of years.

I hope he gets back to great performances soon. The franchises just haven't been good for him (other than financially)

I love this movie. I am so sorry it was overlooked at the Oscars.I actually started to dislike Bale there but that´s just my problem.I think he needs to start doing small movies again because he isn´t a BO draw. He isn´t for a mainstream audiences. At least I think - he can prove me wrong.

To Anonymous (one of them): You should check someJackman´s work. He is doing a lots of stuff - currently is in the theater and has a variety of movies lined up. And he is a really nice guy (I met him:-))

And for anyone yearning for good to great Bale performances in, say, the past five years, please see Batman Begins, Harsh Times, The New World, 3:10 to Yuma, Rescue Dawn, The Dark Knight, I'm Not There, The Prestige and Public Enemies. Hmm...that's all of his performances except Terminator Salvation.

If critics focused half as much on Christian's acting skills as they do on his "rant", it would make for much more interesting conversation. It's a shame some have let an unfotunate slip-up overshadow this man's incredible talent. He gives his all when it come to his work, and is the rare actor who can transform himself into virtually any character, no matter how diverse. It would be nice to hear that discussed once in a while.

That's called Baleheads being very defensive. All I said was "when...everyone was still hugely fond of him" You'd have to be lying to yourself to believe that people haven't cooled on him a lot these past couple of years.

Chris Na TarajaI don't remember much about the movie, I'd have to watch it againBut what I remember was that I was pissed the end was given so much explanation throughout the movie. Apart from that, I thought it was OK.David Bowie was awesome.

Lynnie I have sung Bale's praises in the past about his slipping into character. You can read an overall rave about his talent here. He was #9 in my countdown of favorite actors of the 2000-2005

Paul touche (to some extent). some of those are good... but i can't say that he's anything more than adequate in The Dark Knight. I know there are millions of people for whom saying anything negative about The Dark Knight is blasphemous but that's how i see it

Blaspheme away, Nat. ;-) The Dark Knight is a terrific movie (among my top five last year), but it is by no means sacrosanct. However, I do look at Bale's work in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as two parts of a characterization that we haven't seen the end of yet, and I like what I've seen so far very much. (But I am a Balehead and have been since Velvet Goldmine.)

Nathaniel R I'm the anonymous who posted the comment about Empire magazine. Happy now? Just to clarify I do not consider myself a Balehead. I like the actors work (all of it) and think he is one fine piece of man candy but that's it. I also think the same thing about James McAvoy or Ryan Reynolds. My comment about Bale bashing was aimed at your apparent need to remind us all that Bales likability had slipped since the start of this year. You didn't need to do that. You could have talked about the movie and how good the ensemble cast was as a whole. But you didn't. You singled out Bale in a negative light and it really wasn't needed.

Nathaniel R, Bale was your number one choice from the years 2000-2005? Really? You ranked him higher during those years than now? Besides American Psycho, The Machinist and Batman Begins, what else did he do that impressed you so much? His work post-2005 has been just as impressive if not more so: 3:10 to Yuma, The Prestige, Rescue Dawn, The New World(small role, but he was terrific), Harsh Times, and The Dark Knight(his performance was just as good in this as Batman Begins). The only bum note recently is Terminator Salvation and nothing could have saved that movie with McG directing. I'm not really understanding your claims that somehow Bale has not been delivering fine performances over the years. I don't see the evidence at all.

Everyone was great in this movie Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Rebecca Hall...Scarlett Johansson not so much. That woman is overrated.

I loved the relationship between Angier and Borden. It kind of mirrored also into acting - both great, but Jackman/Angier is also more of a "Showman". Bale/Borden is different and they balanced their differences. I didn´t know who is the bigger "bad guy" in the end but I slipped for Angier, I have to admit. I think this is Nolan´s best movie, not TDK (sorry, Chris)

JR. Bale was my #9, not my #1 if you click on the link. basically i give people a lot of points for altogether genius performances and the only one of those that i think Bale has had this decade is AMERICAN PSYCHO. He's good in a lot of things, sure. But being good and being great are very different. and i guess when you're doing lists like that you're also going somewhat on "promise" and i was expecting him to come up with another PSYCHO, you know. the countdown included 2005 work so THE NEW WORLD was part of that first ranking and i loved him in that too. He showed his versatility there and i hope he does so again.

blueeyes the point of the post was how much has changed during the past three years. i didn't single Bale out. I covered everyone in the picture.

I understand what your intent was with this post. My point is your comment about Bale wasn't really necessary. You said nice positive things about everyone in the picture but him. Did you really (and please be honest with yourself and the rest of us) need to bring attention yet again to that unfortunate business from the start of the year? Don't be like everyone else step outside the boring box that most internet sites put themselves in when it comes to reporting on Bale.

I agree Psycho was one of his breakout roles but why do reviewers only think that a great performance from an actor means he has to act crazy with over the top emotions. I loved Ledger in The Dark Knight but I think his best performances were in Broke Back Mt and Monsters Ball. Anyone can act crazy I enjoy watching subtle performances were you can see the actor thinking inside not raging against the world. Example for Bale was his recent turn in Public Enemies and I thought he did just fine in Salvation it was the movie that lacked not his performance.

As for Jackman, really luster? He seems like gold in his personal life (which is what I believe you were commenting on) but acting, other than live theater he turns out the same level of performance for every movie. No luster there just a little glimmer of his acting ability. He needs to do something more than his normal routine or he’s going to be stuck doing either Wolverine or RomCom till he's 80.

I'm kidding. I see your point. I could have been nicer to Bale and in truth if i weren't so disappointing in his acting recently, I would be. As long as someone is doing fantastic work, I can forgive a lot. if it makes you feel any better if ScarJo had been in the picture, he wouldn't have been the only negative ;)

blueyes:Jackman was great in The Fountain I saw recently. One of the best performances I have seen.As far as I know, he did last pure romantic comedy sometimes in 2002. So I don´t know where did you get the impression that he is doing rom-coms. Since then, he plays pretty non-romantical characters.I personally liked Australia and the bar scene in the end was a really strong acting from his side.I guess you are probably Bale´s fan, but there is no point to turn against Jackman just because he is rising in popularity while Bale isn´t. It´s not his fault. Hugh was lucky with Wolverine and was amazing at the Oscars. He is versatille, extremly multi-talented and to be successful at the theater is much more difficult than in a movie imo. And he can do both. And he needs one role in a good movie to show it also in the screen. That people have connected him mostly with Wolverine is their problem.I am not Bale´s fan and I honestly started to dislike him in The Prestige. I saw about 10 movies with him and he was always the same in every of them for me. Does it mean he is worse than Jackman? No, it is just my opinion. But to attack one actor because someone said something bad about your favorite isn´t fair.

blueyes:Hugh Jackman did the last rom-com in 2002. I think you are confusing him with Gerard Butler who is switching between action and rom-coms.He was very good in Australia (which I liked) and Wolverine is his favorite character so he keeps playing him. He would do fine without him but he just loves him. Theater acting is much more difficult than a movie acting and to be appreciated in both is difficult. And he is appreciated in both. And he is a very nice guy. I met him few times and he was always very charming and nice. You don´t have to attack another actor when someone touches your favorite. I don´t like Bale and I think he is very wooden. But I am not going to write it as a defense when someone writes something bad about Hugh. I started to dislike Bale in The Prestige, actually, but in this movie, his acting style fit here and they were perfectly balanced with Hugh.

Bale is still an enormous star and easily one of the best actors working today.Hugh Jackman's given a few good performances such as in The Prestige. But, he's been tying himself down to a lot of commercial fluff lately. He's nowhere near Bale's level.Great movie from the great Chris Nolan.